CH Rates of Pay – Chemistry (Government of Canada)
CH rates of pay for all CH (Chemistry) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $72,458 to $150,293 across 5 levels. Category: Science & Policy. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.
CH – Chemistry
$72,458 – $150,293
$2,787 – $5,781 biweekly (before deductions)
5 levels · Salary data from Treasury Board collective agreements
Rates effective from 2025-10-01 · Last verified 2026-04-16 · methodology
All CH Levels
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About the CH Classification
The CH (Chemistry) group covers chemists and chemical scientists working in federal laboratories and research facilities. CH employees conduct analytical chemistry, environmental testing, forensic analysis, food safety testing, and research chemistry across departments including Health Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the National Research Council, Natural Resources Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police forensic laboratories.
CH-01 covers junior chemists and laboratory assistants. CH-02 is the working-level analytical or research chemist conducting independent analyses and investigations. CH-03 covers senior chemists and laboratory managers. CH-04 and above are director-level positions managing chemistry programs and research divisions. Most CH positions require a degree in chemistry or a closely related field, with graduate degrees preferred for research-oriented roles.
The CH group is represented by PIPSC under the Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP) collective agreement. Federal chemistry work spans a remarkable range: from testing drinking water quality on First Nations reserves to analyzing seized narcotics for RCMP criminal cases to conducting cutting-edge materials research at the National Research Council. CH scientists often operate highly specialized instrumentation — mass spectrometers, chromatography systems, and spectroscopic equipment — that represents millions of dollars in federal research infrastructure.
Want to know your take-home pay after taxes and deductions? Use the take-home pay calculator or compare CH with other classifications.